David "Fathead" Newman
b. 24 February 1933, Dallas, Texas, USA. David Newman was a tenor/baritone/soprano saxophone player and flautist, whose work contains elements of both jazz and R&B. In the early '50s he toured with Texan blues guitarist T-Bone Walker and recorded the classic Reconsider Baby with Lowell Fulson in 1954. For the next 10 years Newman was part of Ray Charles’ orchestra, appearing on landmark recordings such as I Got A Woman, What'd I Say and Lonely Avenue. Other tenures have included the saxophone position in Herbie Mann's Family Of Mann (1972-74). He has recorded some two dozen albums as a leader since 1958, most tending towards mainstream and post-bop jazz with a funk edge, and has worked extensively as an accompanist in the blues, rock and jazz fields. He worked on Natalie Cole's best-selling UNFORGETTABLE (1990), and received much acclaim for his involvement in the BLUESIANA TRIANGLE benefit projects in aid of the homeless. BLUE GREENS AND BEANS was a collection of bop standards also featuring another Texan player, Marchel Ivery.